Nantlle Ridge Hiking Guide
The perfect ridge walk
Published By: Daniel Weadley. Updated: 17th October 2024. Filed at: Hiking Routes. Disclosure: I may earn a commission from purchases made via links. Warning: This route includes sections on exposed ridges. Comments are open.
Page Contents:
Nantlle Ridge is one of the finest ridge walks in the UK and is an impressive 9km long.
Expect stunning views, exposed ridges and short bursts of grade 1 scrambling.
I rate this route as more challenging than any of the main walking routes up to Snowdon but also more rewarding and with far fewer people around.
Here I’ll outline the route from Rhyd Ddu, finishing at Garnedd Goch, just above the village of Nebo. I did this route in 2023 and then returned the same way for a double traverse – that was a very long day for me (18km) and I had some very sore legs at the end.
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My Favourite Scrambling Footwear:
Route Profile
Length: 9km one way
Time: 4-6 hours one way
Grade: Hard mountain walk with sections of grade 1 scrambling nr exposed ridges.
Start/End: Rhyd Ddu/Nebo
Hazards: Exposed ridges, navigation in poor visibility, faint path in places, falls due to slippery rocks or grass.
Map (click to expand)
Parking For Nantlle Ridge
Where to park will depend on whether you plan on hiking this route one way or returning to the start point.
On my first traverse of Nantlle Ridge, I parked at Rhyd Ddu train station (park here https://w3w.co/circling.diet.fussy or here https://w3w.co/heartless.strictly.promote ) and did a double traverse, there and back – it was a long day and one of the harder hikes I’ve done in Snowdonia.
For my second visit, I did a one-way route so I parked a car in the village of Nebo ( https://w3w.co/sped.powerful.trees ) and drove to Rhyd Ddu and parked the second car at the train station for the start.
I’ve seen many hikers park at one end and only traverse half of the ridge as the full there-and-back is 18km of hard strenuous hiking.
Rhyd Ddu to Y Garn
From the station car park, I went over the road and headed west on the well-made path and then onto the rugged east ridge of Y Garn.
This section of the route is quite a slog with a mixture of grass and gravel/stones underfoot.
There’s no scrambling on this first section and the summit is 633m above sea level.
Approaching the foot of Y Garn, the first summit.
Looking down to Rhyd Ddu from the summit of Y Garn.
I Never Go Out Without a Lightweight Packable Jacket:
Y Garn to Mynydd Drws-y-Coed
From the summit of Y Garn, I took the route south for 1km to the summit of Mynydd Drws-y-Coed.
The west side of this exciting ridge is very steep and offers delightful views down the valley.
There is some grade 1 scrambling over jumbled rocks in this section (slippery when wet), and this brought me perilously close to the edge of the steep ridge at several points. The path through the jumbled rocks is faint and may be hard to follow in poor visibility.
The ridge between Y Garn and Mynydd Drws-y-Coed
Path up Mynydd-Drws-y-Coed
Mynydd-Drws-y-Coed to Trum y Ddysgl
From Mynydd Drws-y-Coed, the path descends and veers to the right (west) before it rises to the second-highest summit on the Nantlle Ridge – Trum y Ddysgl.
This path to this summit is slightly steeper but is mostly dirt and well-trodden. I found it easy to follow on this fine weather day.
On Mynydd Drws-y-Coed looking up to Trum y Ddysgl
On Trum y Ddysgl with Mynydd Drws-y-Coed and Y Garn in the distance.
These Are Perfect for General Hiking:
Trum y Ddysgl to Mynydd Tal y Mignedd
The section of the Nantlle Ridge starts on the summit of Trum y Ddysgl and took me southwest on a well-trodden path to The Obelisk on the summit of Mynydd Tal y Mignedd.
As you can see from the footage, the path was clearly visible and I found it easy to follow on this fine weather day but it could be slippery when wet or frozen.
The obelisk in the distance
Video of me relaxing by the Obelisk on the Nantlle Ridge
From the Obelisk to Craig Cwm Silyn
I’ve met a few hikers that only went as far as the Obelisk and then turned back but I’ll show you the rest of the route.
From the Obelisk, I headed south on a grassy ridge for 400m and then down a steepening path to the double col of Bwlch Dros Bern.
I had to be extra careful on this section as the path was quite steep and I would imagine, potentially treacherous when wet.
From here, the route up to Craig Cwm Silyn beckons; the route just to the right of the ridge is scrambly at grade 1 but further right the path avoids much of the scrambling.
I didn’t have any issues with navigation on this clear day but it may not be so easy in low cloud. As you can see from my photos, the path is fairly narrow and faint in a few places.
Stay just right of the crest (scrambling) or follow the path further to the right to avoid the steepest sections
The path up I took to Craig Cwm Silyn – rugged but mostly avoiding the scrambling sections to the left
The summit of Craig Cwm Silyn
Snowdonia Hiking Guidebook:
Craig Cwm Silyn to Garnedd Goch
From Craig Cwm Silyn, I followed the broad featureless grassy ridge to the final summit of Garnedd Goch.
Note: I didn’t have any issue with navigating this section but I could imagine in low cloud/visibility, a map and compass would be required, this section of the route is truly featureless.
From this end point, you can either reverse the route for a mammoth 18km double traverse or head south-west towards the village of Nebo if you dropped off a car earlier in the day.
The section between Craig Cwm Silyn and Garnedd Goch (mostly a broad, grassy ridge)
The final summit – Garnedd Goch
My Thoughts on Nantlle Ridge
I’ve done Nantlle Ridge twice and really enjoyed it both times.
The views on this quieter side of Snowdonia are stunning, and getting away from the crowds is always a bonus.
I found the double traverse (there and back) quite difficult as it was a hot day and 18km of mountainous trekking left me with very sore legs!
As a hiking route, I rate Nantlle Ridge very highly, but there are a few sections of grade 1 scrambling to be aware of and some of the grassy paths could be treacherous when wet or frozen.
Tips
This route is best avoided on really windy days as the ridge is exposed. Also, in low cloud, the path might not be as clear as you see in my photos and video.
There are only a few places to fill up water bottles, so if you usually filter stream water en route, you’ll need to bring plenty with you.
Parking is limited in Rhyd Ddu and in Nebo, especially on busy summer weekends.
Wearing mountain footwear would be best on the Nantlle Ridge. I’ve worn La Sportiva TX4 and also La Sportiva Trango Tech boots up there without issue.
Related Routes
About Daniel Weadley
This guide to Nantlle Ridge was created by Daniel Weadley, aka The Bald Scrambler.
From walking along beaches and kayaking down rivers to making his way up mountains and even jumping out of planes, Daniel has a love of the outdoors, but scrambling is his real passion.
Daniel Weadley aka The Bald Scrambler
7 Comments
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I Use This Water Filter Bottle
Have fun, keep safe. Hopefully I’ll see you on the mountains one day
By The Bald Scrambler
The section between Y Garn to Mynydd Drws y Coed is extremely treacherous and your guide dangerously glosses over this glaring fact quickly moving on to the next peak.
The path often disappears, and in many areas is perilously close to the sheer drop. We hoped to follow your route from Rhyd Ddu but we’re forced to curtail it in poor visibility and with the hardly mentioned danger.
I just checked the article and I did describe the route as a “hard mountain walk with sections of grade 1 scrambling” and the main hazard as “exposed ridges”.
Also, on the section you mentioned I stated that there was “scrambling over jumbled rocks” and I described the ridge here as “steep”.
However, I appreciate you taking the time to reach out and I wouldn’t want anyone else to underestimate this route so I’ve updated the page to include:
1) Explained that the path is faint over the jumbled rocks/scrambling section.
2) That the scrambling is close to the edge of the exposed ridge.
3) Removed references to “easy scrambling” and replaced with “grade 1 scrambling”.
4) Highlighted the risk of falls on this route.
5) General warning updates.
Thank you for reaching out to me.
Extremely treacherous?! I think he described it perfectly accurately. What did you expect a grade 1 scramble to be like?
Love the Nantlle Ridge, but it has been a few decades since I last walked it. Your article and photos inspire me to return.
I particularly fancy a Cwm Pennant horseshoe, to include Moel Llefn, Moel yr Ogof and Moel Hebog as well as the Nantlle Ridge. I tried it once but ran out of daylight so I would probably take two days over it, camping high somewhere, or maybe descending to Rhyd Ddu and the Cwellyn Arms for the night.
Hi Daniel, love your stuff. My kids recognise you on Youtube if i put your videos up now as we’ve seen a few. My boys are 12 and 11, they’ve so far done Cadair Idris, Moel Hebog, Rhinog Fawr, Moel Siabod ( Daer Ddu ) and just recently the Glyders.
While the Nantle Ridge isn’t next on the list ( I feel i need to face the crowds and take them up Yr Wyddfa ) its certainly on the agenda for if not this year, but next.
My main concern is the ridge after Y Garn. As a kid i attempted the route with my parents, but i think the weather came in while we were sat at Y Garn, so we headed back down so I’ve no first hand experience of it, and anything i can remember was 30 years ago anyway. How bad is this stretch? Is there a way to avoid it, or is it just simply a case of taking it carefully, be prepared to turn around and try a different route?
Hi Simon. I’ve walked the entire ridge from the Rhyd Ddu carpark (cars at either end) once in pouring rain (after the nice dry, but very taxing ascent of Y Garn)…. The sight of Mynydd Drws-y-Coed is quite intimidating, when shrouded in light mist and rain. approaching the scrambly bit. Stay to the left. It is possible, and you can avoid the purest line, even in the wet. Descending the ridge and upto Trum Y Ddysgol is a delight – but not in the rain. Allow plenty of space between walkers to give you the best chance of micro managing your steps on the narrow arrete. (Same advice applies to each narrow ridge.) In the mist you can concentrate more because you are not gawping at the invisible drops either side! The path is pretty self evident , even in the mist. From the last summit there is a an undistinguished descent to Nebo to the second car. (Very happy to find it, we were!)
I have walked solo twice. But only as far as Tal Y Mignedd. Once descending left down to Beddgelert forest, picking a very sketchy route past Moel Lefn….. aiming for the Snowdonia Slate trail to get me past the Llyn. The second solo – I walked down to the right from Tal Y Mignedd handrailing the fence almost all the way to the bottom, then passing thro’ the campsite and onto the road. Not Recommended! The road walk back seems forever, and is very dispiriting after such a glorious hill walk! Best wishes for a great hike.
Walked the ridge yesterday after turning back about 12 months ago due to weather conditions. With hindsight I am glad this happened. In the last 12 months my fitness has improved and I would advise a reasonable level of fitness before traversing the ridge. I would also say the scramble between Y Garn to Mynydd Drws y Coed is for a reasonably experienced scrambler and not for anybody with a fear of heights. You can, like others say, keep to the left and avoid some of the more exposed sections. I walked when wind speed was very low and when confident had a look over the edge or walked the more exposed path. Just take your time, take no unnecessary risks, take plenty of water and kit in case.
Thought this article is very accurate and informative and will read some prior to a day out.